May 2013 News Headlines

Note. All links to news items are to external websites

Carthago Z, showjumping stallion, dies
The influential grey stallion, Carthargo Z has died at the age of 26. He competed at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics with Jos Lansink and won numerous Grand Prix classes. He is the sire of 73 stallions breeeding around the world and is included in the pedigree of many international sport horses.

Shetland pony adopts lamb
While riding on Hay Bluff in Powys equine vet, Georgina Hirst, spotted a lamb suckling from a Shetland pony. It is surprising that a Shetland should accept a lamb but foal and lamb have been seen 'cuddled up asleep' with the mare standing guard.

TV appeal to highlight neglect and abuse of horses
World Horse Welfare has launched a national TV appeal, 'How could anyone?', to highlight the problems facing equine charities who are dealing with unprecedented numbers of neglected and abused horses and ponies. WHW has seen a 40% increase in the number of horses rescued in 2013.

Alligator in stable at Florida Horse Show
An alligator is probably the last thing you want to find lying on your horse rugs in the stable but this is what a competitor in Florida found. A local trapper safely relocated the 5ft alligator so the move-in process for the horse show could continue.

First clone-to-clone foal born
Equine cloning took another step forward when a filly, with bucking bloodlines, was born out of a clone, by a clone. It is the first time that a live foal has resulted from a gelding being bred to an infertile mare. This demonstrates how cloning makes it possible to preserve genetics which might otherwise be lost.

New Zealander Jock Paget wins Badminton
It all came down to the final fence. Michael Jung (reigning Olympic, World and European Champion) on La Biosthetique Sam looked set to win until a late falling pole at the last fence moved Jock Paget on Clifton Promise into the winner's spot. Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt (who both had hopes of a Rolex Grand Slam) were 3rd and 5th respectively.

William Fox-Pitt takes early lead at Badminton
William Fox-Pitt is in 1st position with a score of 45.8 on Oslo, with Michael Jung 2nd with 46.5 on Leopin FST. With only 8 riders gone so far in the dressage, and scores in the 30s expected, they will probably move down the leader board, but both riders have another horse to ride later in the competition.

2010 Badminton winner, Inonothing, retires
Inonothing will be officially retired at Badminton this year. Known for his quirky behaviour, in 2010 Inonothing won Badminton (ridden by Australian Paul Tapner) but then severely fractured his stifle joint at WEG in Kentucky. He returned from injury to be placed 10th place at Luhmuhlen CCI4* in 2012.

Deliberate use of steroids by racing trainer
The British Horseracing Authority considers that Godolphin's trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, deliberatly flouted racing rules by administering steroids to horses in training. Al Zarooni claimed that he did not realise steriods are banned during training but the covert way he obtained and administered the drugs appeared deliberate.